In Rotuma, kava has two contexts, ceremonial and informal. The kava ceremony, when it functions as part of any ceremonial event, is a highly political affair, with individuals served according to rank. In pre-European times, the kava was chewed by virgin girls, (marked by caked limestone on their hair), before it was mixed with the water to make the drink. Prior to European influences the kava ceremony was carried out with chewing and serving done by chiefly virgins, and mixing done by older, experienced and culturally aware women.

Piper methsicum, kava, grog, yaqona. Made from the pounded up roots kneaded in a cloth (silk is best) in a bowl of water. Mild soporific, diuretic, makes your mouth feel numb. Tastes like mud. In Fiji clap once when the bilo (cup) is offered... Drink in one big gulp. Clap thrice. Say, "maca". (mah-tha) means "empty"

Midnight on a carousel rideReaching for the gold ring down inside2015 eplaya meet and greet/ Barbie Death Village/ 7 and E/ Wed. 6PM

Dougly, I think it's available online, maybe in San Mateo too. I never heard of virgins chewing it in modern day Fiji. They usually pounded the roots to powder. It was generally the chore of the young men in the villages. You could also buy it pre-ground in the markets. It's part of ceremony, and social, like having a beer with friends also. It was always passed around one cup at a time, with the eldest, or the guest being served first. We would have a grog bowl at the house on Friday at the end of the week, and whenever family arrived from overseas. When I go back to place my mother's memorial, there will be lots of kava. I don't drink it socially, but always have a few small cups on those special occasions. It's a great honor when friends from chiefly families do the ceremony. No lime in the hair.

Midnight on a carousel rideReaching for the gold ring down inside2015 eplaya meet and greet/ Barbie Death Village/ 7 and E/ Wed. 6PM

The chewed by virgins bit is the traditional practice (as they tended to be young & have better teeth), but now it's all done with an automatic grinder to powderise the roots.

Kava - like whisky - is a bit of an acquired taste, served traditionally it resembles a bowl of muddy water & doesn't have a pleasant taste. I'm on some tonight - though prepared in coconut milk for the taste & because the fatty milk absorbs the kavalactones well. It is quite nice once you get over the taste, maybe after the 1st cup or so, quite subtle effect but very relaxing & a bit inebriating.

Elorrum's right it's easily available on-line & you might get some at healthfood stores - avoid the capsules though they've got a rep for being old & low quality compared to loose powdered root sold for drinking.

The availability of online party favors never ceases to amaze me. The next time I find a patient face down in a mud puddle I will try and remember to consider the possibility they were looking for kava.

Excuse me Ma'am, your going to feel a small prick._______________________________________

I was invited to a kava ceremony while on Ponape. everyone ground and beat the pulp. I don't remember what the straining cloth was, except porous. lots of fiber. stuff tasted like the mud the roots were pulled out of. A tingly buzz and numbs the lips n gums. 2 hours later nap time.

I consume it along with the kava. It's a synergistic side dish that potentiates the betakavalactone molecule for increased bioavailability in the hippocampus. (Coincidentally, we sent our hippopotamus to a hippocampus for a top-notch education)

He's a mystery wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma, painted in hot pants. - SavannahPropane ToysHow to do it wrong:

Foxfur wrote:It tastes like shit on roadkill. How much did you drink? It is very subtle. I usually drink about a pint and get somewhere around half the relaxation of 10mg of Valium.

Whoa crap!!! I've drank a cup with a tablespoon of powder, or a cup with 30 drops from a vile. A pint? Wow, no, never that much. Tasted too much like liquid poop (don't ask). And 10mg valium. I think I'm good then. But I'm also a guy who ate 18 vicodin once and didn't really feel all that much.

I'll leave the kava to the polynesians. Thanks for the info though. At least now I know I'm not crazy (well, as it relates to kava)